The repute of Durham based Beverley Parks, trading as BC Transport, is "hanging by the finest of threads", after failing to excercise any control over the O-licence for four vehicles and five trailers she has held for ten years. North Eastern Deputy Traffic Commissioner Elizabeth Perret cut the fleet by 25% for a six month period after issuing her warning.
The company had ten prohibition notices in the last five years, all but two of the prohibitions having been issued in the last 18 months.
The stated inspection period of four weeks had been exceeded by over a week on four occasions. Records were only available since January 2006, those before that had been destroyed by a fire at the premises.
Parks said that no insurance claim had been made after the fire. Asked by Perrett what damage had been done, she replied that her husband, Keith should reply as she rarely went down to the garage. She worked full time for Asda and was taking management exams. She did the books at the weekend but had never seen a safety inspection sheet.
Perrett commented that it was her licence yet she seemed to be clueless about what went on. Asked whether he discussed the business with his wife, Keith Parks said "not very much really". He decided on drivers' wages, if a driver had to be sacked and he negotiated rates with the customers.
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